Corrigan Times - Local News
Copyright 2013 - Polk County Publishing Company

Man stuck in hospital elevator for four hours

LIVINGSTON — When an elevator at the Livingston hospital got stuck between the second and third fl oor in the bed tower, maintenance workers were able to free most of the occupants within 20 minutes, according to Doug Champagne, one of the stranded. The Shepherd resident was one of four that became trapped in the elevator last Thursday night. Champagne said his family was leaving the ICU unit of the hospital about 7:15 p.m. when the elevator stopped between fl oors. Staff members called a maintenance man who arrived about 20 minutes later. Champagne said they were able to open the doors just enough to free him, his 17-year-old brother, Garrett; his wife Jean Greer and their 18-month-old son, Doug Jr. by 8 p.m. Livingston Fire Department was called to the hospital at 8:22 p.m. with maintenance and security unable to open the doors enough to free Doug's father, Lynn. "These kind of things just happen, Champagne said about the mechanical breakdown. "The hospital has been doing everything they could to help us." Doug said staff had remained near his father and providing food and drinks to him and the other family members who now waited outside the elevator. When his toddler ran out of diapers they brought diapers baby supplies from the hospital nursery. Livingston Fire Chief Corky Cochran and 10 fi refi ghters were standing by while a technician from Otis elevators drove in from the south side of Houston. He arrived shortly after 10 p.m. and Lynn Champagne was freed at 10:50 p.m. An attempt to reach hospital public relations staff for comment was not successful.